Dip tube supporting means



Jan. 19, 1960 c. R. MccAULl-:Y

DIP TUBE SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Feb. 18. 1955 Z/'n/ehar ClaudiusRMCCauIey L V i ited States 2,921,606 DIP TUBE SUPPORTING MEANSApplication February 18, 1955, Serial No. 489,069

7 Claims. (Cl. 13S-47) This invention relates generally to the class ofwater heaters and is directed more particularly to storage type waterheaters.

Automatic storage water heaters embody in the construction thereof awater inlet tube termed a dip tube. This tube is for the purpose ofconducting cold water from the cold water inlet at the top of the tank,down through-the hot water in the tank, to the bottom part of the latterso that the hot water which is being drawn off from the top of the tankwill not be chilled by the inflowing cold water. These tubes areconventionally made of metal and are of a size or diameter to slidethrough the water inlet nipple into the tank and they have at the top aared portion which engages the top of the nipple to hold or suspend thetube in place.

Recently, manufacturers of storage water heaters have started to use diptubes made of plastic and in order to hold the plastic. tube inposition, that is, to prevent the top end of the tube from slipping downthrough the nipple, it has been proposed to employ a means for expandingthe top end portion of the plastic tube so that such expanded portionmay rest upon the top end of the nipple. While the means employed forexpanding the top end of the plastic tube and thereby preventing 'suchend from slipping through the tube has been found eifective, theexpanded portion rests upon and projects from the top end of the nippleand it has been found that this projecting portion' of the tube issubject to damage in the shipping of the heater.

In the ilight of the foregoing, a particular object of the presentinvention is to provide new and novel means of attaching the top end ofthe plastic dip tube to the nipple whereby the possibility of damagebeing done to the tube is avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a manner as hereinafterset forth, new and novel means for coupling the top end of the plasticdip tube with the nipple in such a way as to prevent such end of thetube from extending above the top of the nipple.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a manner ashereinafter set forth, new and novel means for coupling the top end ofthe plastic dip tube with the water inlet nipple whereby completeprotection is given the end of the tube from mechanical injury duringshipping and during the installation of the water heater and, also, acomplete seal is effected between the plastic tube and the nipple whichprevents cold water bypassing the outside of the tube into the tank.

In previous installations of plastic tubes in the inlet nipple,according to prior known methods, collapsing of the tube has occurredwhen the tube has been softened as a result of being subjected toexcessively high temperatures, either as a result of increase of watertemperature or from the use of a heating torch such as is used ineffecting the attachment of copper fittings and because of suchsoftening, the tube is permitted to slip through the nipple into thetank. Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to.provide new and novel arent eter to t snugly in the top end of theplastic d p tube and which grommet is provided at the top Aedge with anoutturned encircling ange which projects beyond the outside of theplastic tube and rests upon the Vtop of the v nipple through which thetube extends. I n order to prevent the tube from slipping off of thegrommet, the grommet carriesA suitable means which couples it with thetube. In certain forms of the grommet, prongs or teeth are providedwhich project outwardly and are embedded in the inner wall surface ofthe plastic tubeand are additionally so formed that the weight ofthetube pulling down thereon causes the prongs to become more firmlyembedded in the material of the tube so that even though the tube may besoftened from excessive heat, it cannot slip olf of the grommet but willbe securely suspended.

In another form of the invention, the tube and grommet are coupledtogether by a series of rivets which pass through the wall of the tubeand grommet.

In addition to suspending the tube inthe tank nipple, the ange portionof the gromrnet protects the topfedge of the tube and forms a seal whichprevents cold water bypassing the outer side of the tube into the tankthrough the nipple.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of the specification with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity withthe showing of the drawing but that minonchanges and modifications maybe made solong as the sameform no material'departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in vertical section through a portion of the top of awater heater tank and a pipe'nipple showing in section one embodiment ofthe present invention fitted in an 'end of a dip tube andsuspending thelatter in the nipple.

Fig. 2 Vis a sectional view taken substantially on `the line 2 -2 ofFig. Y Y

Fig. 3 is aview corresponding to Fig. 1 and illustrating a secondembodiment `of the invention.y

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 and illustrating a thirdembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig.5.

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. V1 and illustrating a fourthembodimentof the invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line vS--S of Fig.7. I 'A Referring now more particularly to the drawing, with specificreference to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 generally designates aportion of the top or head of a tank such as may form a part of astorage water heater while the numeral 12 generally designates theconventional nipple which is welded in the top wall of the tank andwhich projects upwardly and is suitably screw threaded as `indicated at14 for the attachment of a cold water pipe, not shown. j

While the nipple v12 has been illustrated as screw threaded, it is, ofcourse, contemplated to provide a ilonthreaded nipple where connectionsare made by sweating 3 as in the use of copper tubing such as isrequired in many installations.

In the figures of the drawing above referred to, one embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated. This embodiment comprises a tubularthin metal sleeve or grommet which is generally designated 16 andcomprises the annular wall portion 18 which carries the integraloutturned encircling ange 20. The outside diameter of the annularportion 18 of the grommet` is approximately the same as the insidediameter of the plastic dip tube in which it is designed to t. Such adip tube is here illustrated and generally designated 21, the upperportion only thereof being shown.

' j 'Ihe overall diameter of the ange 20 is greater than the insidediameter of the nipple but less than the outside diameter thereof Vsothat when the device is in use, the flange will rest upon the top edgeof the nipple but will not project beyond the outer side.

'lhe grommet annular portion 18 is fitted withinthe plastic tube 21 andin this embodiment the lower edge of the portion`18 has an outturnednarrow ange 22 which is turned up slightly and which has the edgenotched in a saw-tooth fashion to provide the pointed teeth 23.

It will be seen that when the annular portion 18 of the grommet isslipped into the top end of the plastic tube, the upturned ilange andthe teeth forming part thereof will slide in freely but will opposeoutward movement as the teeth will press the adjacent or opposing-partof the tube outwardly as indicated at 24 and penetrate the tubematerial.

The annular portion 18 is of a diameter to t more or less tightly in thetube and the outward projection of the teeth 23 is such that theportions 24 of the tube will not be extended to such a degree as tooppose the insertion of the tube into the nipple but they will betightly engaged against the inner wall of the nipple.

Since the diameter of the ange 20 is greater than the `outside diameterof the tube, it will be seen that it will rest upon the top end of thenipple and the out-pressed portions will center the tube in the nippleso that there will be an equal bearing of the ange on the end of thenipple all around the ange.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention whereinthe grommet is generally designated 16a.y In this and the succeedingfigures, the same reference'characters are employed for designating thetank top, the nipple and screw threads on the latter.

The embodiment 16a comprises the relatively long annular sleeve portion25, the outside diameter of which is approximately equal to the insidediameter of the tube 21 in which it is inserted and this annular portionis also provided with the outturned flange 26 which rests upon the topend of the tank nipple.

In this second embodiment, the annular portion 2S is preferably, thoughnot necessarily, of slightly greater length than the annular part 18 anda plurality of outwardly projecting and upwardly directed teeth 27 areformed by punching out portions of the wall of the annular body, asillustrated. In this illustration, the punch openings .2S are shown asbeing rectangular with the prongs or teeth 27 joined to the bodyadjacent the bottom edge thereof but it is to be understood that otherforms of the prongs or teeth may be4 employed if desxred. In thisembodiment, the prongs have their free upper ends pressed against orembedded inthe inner surface of the plastic tube and force portions ofthe latter outwardly as indicated at 29 for tight engagement against theinner surface of the tank nipple. Thus the plastic tube will be centeredin the nipple by these out-pressed or outwardly projecting portions ofthe tube so that proper engagement of the ange 26 with the top end ofthe nipple is obtained.

Figs and 6 illustrate a third embodiment. In this third embodiment, thegrommet is generallydesignated 16b and comprises the annular sleeveportion .30 having at the top edge the outturned surrounding flange 31to engage upon the top of the tank nipple, as illustrated. In thisembodiment, the annular sleeve portion of the grommet is provided with aplurality of deep V-notches 32 cut therein from the bottom edge therebyproviding a series of bottom edge points or prongs 33. These prongs arebent upwardly as illustrated and correspond in their action to thepointed teeth or prongs 23 and to the prongs 27 in that they can slipinto the nipple 21 without difculty as the grommet is inserted but,because of the fact that the points are directed upwardly and outwardly,they will press into the wall of the tube and oppose outward movement ofthe grommet. Likewise, these prongs or points will press out portions ofthe tube as indicated at 34, which outpressed portions will engagetightly against the inner surface of the tank nipple and maintain thetube centered therein.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.In this fourth embodiment, the grommet is generally designated 16a` andlike the preceding forms, it comprises the annular sleeve portion 35having the outturned ange 36 at its top edge which, like the precedingflanges, is of a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the tanknipple to rest upon the top end of the latter but not suiciently wide toproject beyond the outer side of the nipple. In place of the tubeengaging or penetrating prongs illustrated and described in connectionwith the preceding embodiments, this last mentioned embodiment issecured to the plastic dip tube 21 by means of a number of solid rivets37. As will be readily apparent, the wall of the annular portion 3S isprovided with suitable apertures at 38 and corresponding apertures 39are formed in the dip tube to receive the rivets which are illustratedas being of solid form through a portion of their length, and which havethe ends turned or flanged as indicated at 40 after being insertedthrough the aligned openings 37 and 38. In this manner, the outersurface of the annular portion 35 of the grommet will be firmly securedagainst the inner surface of the dip tube into which it is extended.

By the use of the inside grommet of the present invention to support theplastic dip tube, four distinct and desirable advantages are had:

First, the grommet holds the tube completely inside the tank nipple togive it complete protection from mechanical injury during shipping andinstallation of the Water heater;

Second, the grommet gives a'complete seal between the plastic tubeandthe nipple so that water will not be bypassed around the outside of thetube into the tank. In other known methods, such by-passing or leakageoccurs; Y f

Third, the grommet is inserted into the inside of the tube and holds thetube from collapsing into a closed or restricted position should thetube become softened due to excessive temperature in the water tank. Ifthe vgrommet were used on the outer side of the plastic tube, thisdesirable advantage would be lost; and

Fourth, the metal grommets of the present invention are attached to thetube in such a manner that they will not pull out even though the tubeshould become softened by hot water of the tank or by heat from a torchin soldering a copper water line to an adaptor fitting screwed onto thetank nipple. It is readily obvious, this latter advantage isaccomplished in the tirst three embodiments of the invention by thesharp projections provided on the grommet which tend to dig into theplastic still further as the plastic becomes soft, while in the .fourthembodiment, the rivets provide a. positive attachment. The fact that theplastic tube and itsY attachment point are below the conventional tube,which employs a ring type are, gives added safety against softening andpossible charring of the plastic when soldering iS done.

I claim:

1. A plastic dip tube and means for suspending the same in an uprightpipe nipple, said means comprising a grommet in the form of a thinwalled annular sleeve of an outside diameter approximating the insidediameter of and tted in an end portion of the tube, a right angularlyextending flange extending laterally from an end of the sleeve acrossthe adjacent end edge of said portion and beyond the outer side of thetube, and a plurality of tube penetrating elements carried by the sleevearound the outside thereof, said elements being directed outwardly andpressing the penetrated portions of the tube outwardly, the outersurfaces of said out-pressed portions of the tube dening a circular areasubstantially equaling the inside diameter of the nipple to engage theinner surface of the nipple to center the tube in the nipple.

2. As a new article of manufacture for use in a water heater, a dip tubeunit adapted to be suspended in and from the top end of an upright waterinlet nipple, said unit consisting only of a tube body of an elasticmaterial adapted for insertion into the water inlet nipple of a waterheater and a thin walled annular grommet sleeve inserted in one end onlyof the tube and having a right angled outwardly directed terminal flangeportion projecting across the adjacent end of the tube and beyond theouter side of the tube, and means carried by and projecting laterallyfrom the grommet sleeve and forming the sole fastening between the sameand the tube to prevent separation of the grommet sleeve from the tube,the ange being adapted to rest freely on and support the tube from thesaid top end of said nipple.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises anannular series of finger-like elements projecting obliquely outwardlyfrom the grommet sleeve and directed toward the flange and having theirends embedded in the material of the tube body and said material of thetube body being pressed outwardly by said ends of said projectingfinger-like elements beyond the over-al1 diameter of the tube above andbelow the said elements.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein said nger-like elementsconsist of integral portions of the material of the said grommet sleeve.

5. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises anannular series of linger-like elements projecting obliquely outwardlyfrom the grommet sleeve and directed toward the flange, said elementscomprising pointed prongs formed in an outwardly turned portion of theend of the sleeve remote from the ange and having their ends pressedagainst the material of the tube body and causing the material of thetube body to be pressed outwardly beyond the over-al1 diameter of thetube above and below the said elements and the said pointed ends of theelements being adapted to enter into the material of the tube body toprevent the latter from slipping off of the sleeve.

6. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises anannular series of finger-like elements projecting obliquely outwardlyfrom the grommet sleeve and directed toward the ange, the said grommetsleeve having a plurality of V-slots therein and extending from the endthereof remote from the ange toward the flanged end and the saidlinger-like elements constituting out-turned pointed terminal portionsof the sleeve material between the V-slots and adapted to have thepoints thereof embedded in the tube material and the said material ofthe tube body being pressed outwardly by the said pointed ends of theprojecting linger-like elements beyond the over-all diameter of the tubeabove and below said elements and the pointed finger-like elements beingadapted to enter the material of the tube body to prevent the tube bodyfrom slipping ol of the sleeve.

7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said means comprises anannular series of nger-like elements consisting of integral portions ofthe sleeve located between the flange and the remote end of the sleeveand projecting obliquely outwardly from the wall ofthe sleeve anddirected toward the flange and having their ends pressed against thematerial of the tube body to become embedded therein upon movement ofthe tube body on the sleeve in a direction away from the flange and saidmaterial of the tube body being pressed outwardly by the said ends ofthe projecting linger-like elements beyond the over-all diameter of thetube above and below the said elements.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 921,079Burtscher May 11, 1909 1,548,986 Donovan Aug. 11, 1925 1,746,132 StokesFeb. 4, 1930 2,477,436 Bannister July 26, 1949 2,648,549 Woodward Aug.11, 1953 2,764,427 Andrus Sept. 25, 1956 2,842,163 Boylan July 8, 1958FOREIGN PATENTS 739,434 France of 1932

